Switch mechanism for overhead tracks.



J. JAMES.

SWHCHMEKCHANISM FOR OVERHEAD TRACKSY APPucArsora me res. 9,1914.

PatentedApr. 4,' 1916. '2 SHEETS-sunt l' I wmmmw" -IITIL A Q M mi.. W w G I, mi w 4 m l .m w 1 n L m Mm W A m at the central position, shown in Fig. l', the carriage carried thereon is adapted to pass y mesmo.

scans, or Vsona' fsrmnsoiv, wisconsin', assiettes. 'rc asians Menoracfrnnins conter, or sono arnnson, wisconsin, a 'consona'.rron or wisconsin.

smsen meenemen :son cvnnnnsn To all Iwhom t may concern.'

' be used in connection with overhead tracks for litter carriers, hay carriers and the like and by which the moving carriage, which is suspended from such tracks may be either switched from a single track to any one of a plurality of tracks or vice versa.

- My invention pertains more especially,

I among other things;y irst, to the device for operatingthe switch from a distance; second, to they device for'lock'ing the movable switch burin alinement with any one of e plutelity. of tracks; third, to the stop forl preventingy the carriage from. running o i the end of any one4 of the tracks when the switch bar is4 out of alinement therewith;v

fourth, to the device for movin such stop andholding it out of the line o movement of the moving carriage when the switch bei:V is in' position to receive such carriage; and,

.nit-h, to rthe general construction and arrangement of the several cooperating parts.

-ll/ly invention is further explained by reerenceto the accompanying drawings in Figure isa plan View. Fig. 2 is e side l 'I view, andhig. 3 isV an end view.

Lilie parts are identified by the same rel .erence numerals throughout the severalviews.

f1' represents the' main track .which is adapted, by the 'movement'of the switch bar 2, to be brought into connection with any oneof the several tracks 3, 4 or 5, 6.and 7 ereoplerating cables by which the switch bar 2 isoperated. When the switch bar 2 is freely from the track l to the track 3 and vice versa. When, however, it is desirous to cony elinement with the track 4`r when the .carringe will be free pass from the .tracli' n. Specification of Letters ,Pe/tent.K4

v,from the track to the track Patenten Api. 4, 191e.'

Application led February 9, wie. Serial Ko. 317,@19.

to said track 4f and vice versa. When, how- 55 I i ever, 1t 1s desirous to move the carriage from the track l to the track 5, the' operator draws upon the cable 7 when the switch bar 2l will be brought in alinement with the track 5 and the carriage will 5 and vice versa.

The movable switch bar 2 is connected at one end with the track l by the'hinge pin 8 whichl permits the opposite end 'of saidT switch bar to be swung toward the right orl left, as maybe required, in connecting-its opposite end with any one ofthe several tracks 3, l or 5. The switch bar 2 is suspended'from the central swinging barl 1l by a-plurality of hangers 12, l2. The'hangers 12 are connected at their lower ends with the switch bar 2 by the bolts 13 and withthe 'bar .11. by the bolts 14, 14. The swinging bar 1l 1s plvotally connected at oneend with a supporting frame by the bolt 15. The

pass freely 6c supporting-frame consists of the two stai tionary side bars-16, 1&6 and end members 17 and 18. The side bars 16 are connected with the end member 17 by bolts 19 and. with the end member. 18 by the bolts' 20. The? several tracks 3, l or 5 are suspended from the end member 18 by a plurality `of hangs. ers 21-and bolts 22. It will be'obvious that by this arrangement the switch bar 2 may' be moved toward or from any one of the branch tracks 3, 4 or 5 by and with the swinging bar 1l from which such switch bar, is suspended. Alsoi that the same'locking' mechanism which' holds said swinging bar also holds the switch barfwhich is suspended therefrom.n As a means, therefore, of retaining said switch bar in' alinement with any one of the'several branch tracks 3, 4

or 5, I have provided 'Said swinging bar 11 with a locking lever 23 4'which is pivotally supported from the'front end of the 'swingi ing bar 11 by the pin 25. One end of the locking lever 23 is provided with a lug 24.

As one end of the lever23 is drawn towardI the right (reference being had to Fig. l) by i the re-,coil o the spiral spring 32 the lug' 24 which is connected -with the oppositeA end of said lever from saidspringis thrown ltoward the left and is thereby caused 'to engage inone of the notches 25, 26 or 27 formed in the arc-shaped plate 28, whereby the switchbar is securely locked in alinenient with any one of the rails 3, #L or 5. The locking lever 23 is connected with the operating cables and l throughthe trans-4 versely arranged bar 29'and said bar 29 and 'lever 23 are rigidly connected together at their junction in any suitable manner, while the outer ends of said bar 29 are respectively connected With said operating cables 6 and T in any suitable manner. Thus it is obvious that when desirous to bring the free end of the switch bar 2 in alinement with the track 4, it is necessaryl simply to draw upon the cable 6, Vwhereby said lug 24 will be brought out of engagement with its retaining notch whilesaid switch bar will simultaneously move into alinenient with the track 4. lVhen, however, it is desirous to reverse the movement of said switch bar, it can be brought into alinement with either of the other two tracks 3 or 5 by drawing upon the cable 7 when the switch bur will be locked and retained in alinement with either of'said tracks 3 or 5 by engagement of the luV 2l with one of said notches 25 or 27. Tus it is obvious that by the same movement of either cable 6 or 7 the 'switch bar is first unlocked and then swungr into its proper position as previously described. The spring 32 is connected at one end with the locking: to said bar-11, substantially as shown.

' To prevent the carriage carried on any u one of the tracks 3, e or 5 from being ac- 4cidentally dropped therefrom when the switch bar 2 is out of alinerrient with such track, l have provided a pair of brackets 35 and 35' which brackets are rigidly con nected with the swinging bar 11, as heretofore described, andare therefore adapted to he moved toward the right and-let'as the switch bar is brought into alinemerit with any one of the tracks 3,4 or 5. Thus it is obvious that when the switch bar is in aliueineut with the track 3, as shown in Fig. l, the bracket 35 will block the space above the' track 4, while the bracket 35' will block A:he space above the track 5, as shown in Fig. Il, whereby a carriage sunnfwtafl on either of the` tracks 4 or 5 would be brought in contact with said brackets 35 and 35 and consequently would be prevented from.

dropping from said tracks, while'a carriage supported on the track 3 would be freerto,

pass over the switch bar to the track 1. When, howeverthe switch bar is moved toward the. left, said bracket 35' would be vcaused to close the space above the trug-,ks and 5, thereby preventing the carriage from dropping from either of said trucks 3 or while a carriage supported on the trackl would be free to pass forward over the switch bar to said track 1. It will now be obvious that when a carriage is on the track 5 and the switch har is moved in alinemont with said track, the bracket 35 will lever 23 and at its opposite end idly suspended at their upper ends from the A swinging bar 11 and the free end of said swinging bar l1 is slidablysupported be. tween the bars 36 and 18.

While I have shown and described three 'branch tracks, 3, l and 5, it is obvious that'4 'the number of such tracks may be increased or diminished as circumstances may require. Having:r vthus described m invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. The combination of a stationary frame, a swinging bar pivotally connected at one end to said stationary frame, a switch bar piiotallv connected at one end with a single track, its oppositeend being adapted to )e brought into alincment with a ilurality `of branch tracks, means for suspending.,r said switch bar from said swinging bar, means for automatically locking said swiugiugbar and thereby retaining the same in alinenient with any one of a plurality of branch tracks and means for manually releasing said lecleing mechanism and simultaneously removinge,r said switch bar from one ot said branch trucha to another.

ln a switch for'over head tracks. the combination of a stationary trame, a swing` in bar pivotally connected at one end to sind stationary frame, a pair of operatin'f cablesl each connected at one end to saiii, swinging bar and :extending respectively from thence in opposite directions-terminate ing within reach of the operator, a switch her iivotally connected at one end with a single track, its opposite end being adapted. to be brought into alinemeut with a plu?. rality of branch tracks. means for suspending;r said switch har from said swinging bar. means for uutoniaticallylocking said swinging' bar and thereby/retaining said switch bar in alineinrnt with anv one of a plurality of branch-tracks, said locking mechanism being manualiy'eleased and said swinging bar and said switch bar being simultane ously moved by drawing upon one of said... cables 3. in a switch for over head tracks, the combination of .a stationary-frame comprising two side bars and two end bars rigidly connected together, a Swingin bar pivotally connected at one end to one o said end bare. a switch bar pivotally connected' at one end with a single track, a plurality of brauch tracks, means for suspending said switch bar from said swinging bar. a looking lever pivotally eoiuiected near its center with said awinafina liar, a s iiral spring connected at one end, with said balding lever and at imago -arcshaped b ar and cause the same to engage' p 'in the retaining recesses formed in such bar,

said' locking lug, being manuallyl withdrawn from said recesses and moved b the lateral pull uponl either one of said ca les and au- .tomaticall'y moved in the opposite direction lby -thesrecoil of said spring.. 4. In a switch for over-,diced tracks, the

combination of a stationary frame comprisingtwo 'side bars and two 'end bars rigidly connected together, a swinging; bar pivotally connected at one end to oneo n Y a switch bar pivotally connected at one end with single track, a pluralityV of,v branch tracks, means for suspending said switch bar from said'swinging bar, a locking bar pivotally connected` with said swinging bar, a

spiral spring connected at one end with said locking bar and at its opposite end to said swinging bar, a bar rigidly connected near vits center to said locking bar a pair of cables each connected at one end with opposite ends respectively of said last named bar and respectively passing from thence in opposite directions terminating within reach of an operator, an arc-shaped bar provided with a plurality of recesses, said spiral spring being adapted to normally retain a lug'connected with one end of said locking bar against the bearing surface of said arcshaped bar and cause the former `to enter the retaining recesses in saidf arc-shapedv bar, said lug being manually withdrawn from one of said recesses and moved to the )next by, a lateral pullupon either one of.'

, said cables and to be automatically-moved in the opposite direction andthrown into one of said retaining recesses by the recoil of Qsaid spring, a plurality of carriage stops suspended from said swinging bar, said stops being adapted to be moved laterally with said switch tracks, whereby the liability of a carriage being accidentally dropped from any one of said branch tracks when the switch liar is `out of. alinement Withsuch track is avoided.

' 5. In a switch for over head tracks, the combination of a 'stationary frame compris- '50 ing'two side bars and two end bars rigidly connected together, a swinging bar pivotally connected at one'end to one of said end bars,

a switch bar pivoteily connected at one end with a single track, a plurality/of branch i tracks,means for suspending said switch bar bar above said branch from said swinging bar, a locking bar pivotally connected with said swinging bar, a spiral spring connected at one `end with said locking bar andA at its opposite end to said swinging bar, a bar rigidly connected near its center with Vsaid locking bar a pair ot' cables each connected at one end with one endof said -last named baiand respectively passing from thence in opposite directions from said bar, a locking lug connected with one endtof said locking bar, an arc-shaped barprovided Within plurality of recesses, said spiral spring being adapted to normally retain said lug against the bearing surface of'said arc-shaped bar andv cause the same to enter the retainingzrecesses invisaid bar, said lug being manually withdrawn from one of said recesses and moved to the next byfthe lateral pull uponeitherone of said cables and to be automatically moved in the opposite direction by the recoil of said spring, a plurality of carriage stops rigidly suspended from said swinging bar, said stops being adapted to prevent a carriage from being accidentally' dropped from any of said tracks when the switch bar is out of alinement therewith.

6. ln a device of the described class,- the combination with a main track'and a set of branch tracks, of a, stationary frame supported above the tracks, a swinging bar pivotally connected to and adapted to swing horizontally thereon, al switch bar pivotally connected to the main track at one end and adapted to swing in the horizontal plane of the main track either into alinement therewith or into rea plurality of ranch tracks, means for retaining .'said switch bar in alinement with any one of a plurality of branch tracks, and means for moving said switch bar fro one of said tracks to another. f

7. In a device ofthe described class, the combination with a main track and a set of branch tracks, vof stationary frame supported above the tracks, pivotally connected at one end to and adapted to swing horizontally thereon, a pair of fiexible bar actuating members' each connected at one end with said swinging bar and extending respectively in opposite directions, a switch bar pivotally connected to the main track and adapted "to swing in thehorizontal plane thereof, tocarry its opposlte end into registry with any one of the set of branch tracks, means for supporting said Switchbar fromasaid swinging bar, and' means for retaining said switch bar in registry with any one of a plurality of branch tracks.

8. In a track system for suspended carriers, the combination with a switch actuating member located above the level of the xtracks in said system and adapted for horizontal movement inv two directions, of a istry at its opposite end with a swinging bar latch pvotally cennectcd wich said switch actuating member, a statlonary catch ber with which saicl latch may engage, a spring4 for ectuatmg sind: latch lnto engaggcmexrlb with the catch bal', and flexible actuzltmg devices conneced with the latch en opposite sides of its pivotal connection with the switch actuating member, whereby a pull upon either ci' said flexible connections will initially release the latch and then operate 

